One Club Staffer Goes Missing

Visiting U.S. for One Show Awards, Fengquan Guan Hasn't Been Seen Since Kayak Trip

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- On the eve of the 2010 One Show awards, the nonprofit organization that runs the ad competition is grappling with the disappearance of one of its top staffers, One Club China Regional Manager Fengquan Guan.

The 33-year old, Beijing-based Mr. Guan -- who is better known by the name "Fench" -- arrived in the U.S. last week to participate in the One Show creative week activities. But after a weekend kayak outing on the Long Island Sound, Mr. Guan never returned.

After unsuccessful aerial, land and water searches, the U.S. Coast Guard and police have now called off the search, according to Connecticut news reports. The search was initially called off on Monday, but resumed again after the kayak Mr. Guan was using was found washed ashore. One report by The New Haven Register said at the time Mr. Guan took the kayak out, waves were between two- and three-feet high, with winds of 15-20 miles per hour and a water temperature of 54 degrees.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr. Guan has served as the regional manager in China for the One Club since June 2005. His Facebook page lists as friends several top agency executives including Ogilvy's Lars Bastholm, Periera & O' Dell's P.J. Pereira, Martin Agency's Andy Azula and AKQAs' Rei Inamoto.

Mr. Guan's disappearance casts a shadow over the One Club's second annual Creative Week and its One Show awards fest, which will be held at Lincoln Center in New York tonight. Because of the sensitivity of the investigation, the One Club could not disclose any details regarding the circumstances of Mr. Guan's disappearance.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleague and dear friend Fench Guan and his family, during this difficult time," said One Club President Kevin Swanepoel. "His family is asking for anyone who may have information on Fench Guan to please contact their local police department immediately or Commander Doucette of the U.S. Coast Guard on 203-468-4401."